Confirmation. Handbook

Transcription

1 Confirmation We thank you for working with us in the faith formation of your youth! If at any time you have questions or concerns regarding the confirmation program, please contact Pastor Kathleen Armstrong or Cody Kuehl at the Church office. Handbook

2 Church Directory Cross of Christ Lutheran Church Lowell Blvd. Broomfield, CO Pastor Steve Berke Pastor Kathleen Armstrong Cody Kuehl, Director of Youth Ministry Sixth Grade Guides Steve Dunn Mary Peck Mandy Sevier Ross Hoskins Small Group Guides Seventh Grade Guides Paul Olson Jessica Hess Kathleen Briscoe Eighth Grade Guides Wyatt Burton Bill Strong LeaAnne Frey Krista Craft Substitute Guides Jim Herbolsheimer Kerri Kraft Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp Confirmation Week Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp is an ELCA Summer Christian camp located in the Sangre De Christo mountains of southern Colorado. During this week long program, youth will get a chance at low ropes, high ropes, white water rafting, and hiking. They will experience Bible study, arts and crafts, and archery as well! All this while hanging out with youth from Cross of Christ and other congregations, not to mention the great counselors. Camp is one of the most valuable faith formational experiences that we do as a church. Youth are encouraged to attend RTLC camp at least once in their three years in confirmation. Scholarships are available. Registration is open November 1, and is due February 15. Register online at June 25 - July 1 - Confirmation week #1 Cost: $425 6th - 8th Grade Youth Scholarships Scholarships are available for anyone going to any Cross of Christ ministry activity. This includes both Rainbow Trail and Sky Ranch Lutheran Camps, as well as ALL youth activities. We plan scholarships into our annual budgeting and fundraising forecasts, so please don't hesitate to ask for help with paying for activities through the church. If you would like to help support our scholarship program, please sign up for a gift card table shift on a Sunday morning and purchase a re-loadable gift card for either Safeway or King Soopers. Forms for scholarships are available on the youth board. Summer Camp Scholarships are due by March 15,

3 RTLC Confirmation Retreat A weekend of fun and learning with an interactive study by a great speaker! Get away to Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp for a weekend retreat during the fall where we ll spend time in fellowship and learning with extraordinary RTLC staff. Join us for crafts, team building, activities, outdoor games, and worship! November 4-6, 2016 $80 Middle School Youth Gathering Join us for a weekend of fun and wackiness at the Embassy Suites in Loveland as we join together for music, games, inspirational messages, and service! Theme: Reformed January 13-15, 2017 Embassy Suites, Loveland, CO Cost is $165, but full and partial scholarships are available. We will registration forms when we get them. Table of Contents Item Page # Purpose 4 Curriculum / Wednesday Confirmation Format 6 Requirements 7-8 8th Grade Requirements 9 Expectations 10 Mentoring / Lenten Worship 11 Make-Up Lessons 11 Confirmation Schedule RTLC Confirmation Retreat 14 Middle School Youth Gathering 14 Rainbow Trail Confirmation Week 15 Camp Scholarships

4 Purpose/Mission DECEMBER 7-28 WINTER BREAK The Confirmation journey is an intentional time set aside during a young person's life for them to learn about, think about, and make the Christian faith their own. In our congregation, we involve young people in this program during their 6th, 7th, and 8th grade years, with their Affirmation of Baptism taking place in the fall of their 9th grade year. When babies or children are brought to be baptized, parents and sponsors make faith promises for them. "You are entrusted with responsibilities, "to live with them among God's faithful people, bring them to the word of God and the holy supper, teach them the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments, place in their hands the holy scriptures, and nurture them in faith and prayer, so that they may learn to trust God, proclaim Christ through word and deed, care for others and the world God made, and work for justice and peace." -Evangelical Lutheran Worship, pg. 228 Service of Holy Baptism In the confirmation program, young people learn about what it means to be a Lutheran Christian, and on Confirmation Sunday affirm those baptismal promises for themselves, saying, "In faith, I turn to Christ." At Cross of Christ, the confirmation program is a time to learn, grow, and feel a part of this Christian community with other youth and adults. It is NOT a journey toward a graduation, but another step on the life-long journey of faith that extends from birth to death. We want to partner with parents during these years as you guide your child in developing a stronger relationship with Christ. January 4 Holy Communion (GAS) January 8 CHURCH VISIT #2 January January 18 January 25 February 1 February 8 February 15 February 22 April 11 April 19 April 26 Middle School Youth Gathering Holy Communion - Grace (GAS) Forgiveness (Lesson) Temptation / Trial (Lesson) Baptism - What is it to live in Baptism (GAS) Deliverance / Conclusion (Lesson) Baptism - Matthew 28 (GAS) Mentor Orientation LENTEN MENTORING / WORSHIP (MARCH 1 - APRIL 16) Seder Meal (8TH GRADE) Lutheran 101 (Lesson) Connect the Dots (Lesson) April 30 CHURCH VISIT #3 May 3 End of the Year Conclusion & Celebration 4 13

5 September 14 September 21 September 28 October 5 Confirmation Schedule ( ) The Greatest Prayer (Lesson) Prayer - How do we call to God (GAS) Our Father in Heaven (Lesson) Hallowed be Thy Name (Lesson) October 9 CHURCH VISIT #1 October 9 October 12 October 19 October 26 November 2 November 4-6 November 9 November 16 November 30 NOVEMBER 23 Luther Movie Reformation Madness (GAS) Reformation / Martin Luther (Lesson) Reformation Fun (GAS) The Kingdom of God (Lesson) RTLC Confirmation Prayer (GAS) God s Will be Done (Lesson) Adventfest (GAS) THANKSGIVING BREAK Confirmation Curriculum Our confirmation curriculum for the three years is based on the Small Catechism (Apostles Creed, Ten Commandments, and Lord s Prayer), the Lutheran Sacraments (Holy Baptism and Holy Communion), Lutheran Church History, and the Bible (Old and New Testament) Lord s Prayer, Sacraments, and Lutheran Church History Ten Commandments and Apostles Creed Bible - Old & New Testament Wednesday 360 Schedule Confirmation is part of the Wednesday 360 program. Wednesday 360 is a faith formation ministry for the entire community. Wednesday 360 meets weekly to build a strong community through fellowship, music, worship, and faith formation opportunities for all ages. 5:00 p.m. Seraphim Choir (2nd-5th grade) 5:30 p.m. Dinner - menu and sign up for each week on church website through the newsletter and youth board $5 / person or $20 / family (accept cash, check, credit card) Dinner sign up is necessary by Tuesday 9 a.m. each week. 6:25 p.m. Worship - for entire family 6:50-8 p.m. Confirmation activities Kid s Club (3 year olds - 5th grade) Adult Bible Study High School Youth Activities 7:00 p.m. Soli Dei Choir Practice 12 5

6 Confirmation Lesson Format The weekly confirmation program is made up of a mixture of large group lessons, small group discussions and activities, and hands on learning through art, games, and service. Weeks 1 and 3 - Large/Small Group: Each confirmation session on the first and third weeks of the month will be divided into a large group and a small group session. During large group, one of the staff teaches the main lesson to the entire class. This is done through PowerPoint, discussion, multimedia presentations, and games. The Small Group time is designed to give youth a chance to discuss how the topic applies to their life and how it shapes their faith. Youth are divided into small groups (by age and gender) and are led by one or two of our adult small group guides. Weeks 2 and 4 - GAS Nights (Games/Art/Service): The second and fourth Wednesdays of each month will be dedicated to actively building our community of youth through a rotation between fun team-building, activities and games, art projects and installations, and service projects. This component of our confirmation curriculum is designed to get our youth integrated into the community of faith though hands-on activities. These lessons will build upon the main lesson from the week before. Please look at schedule because large/small group and GAS Nights do not always follow the 1 & 3 / 2 & 4 week pattern. Mentoring/Lenten Worship The purpose of mentoring is to develop meaningful relationships between adults and youth, where both can grow and learn spiritually from each other. Mentoring is a one on one time for developing this relationship. The mentor and youth sessions are designed to give students another adult in their life who will pray for them and share in their faith development. Each student will be responsible for finding their own mentor by January 4, They should be a confirmed Christian that is active in their congregation. There will be a Parent/Mentor meeting on Wednesday, February 22 at 7 p.m. (Parent and mentor must attend the meeting. This is for new mentors and parents only.) The mentoring sessions will take place during Lent: March 1 April 16, There will be no class during the season of Lent in lieu of the mentoring sessions. This is not time off from confirmation. Students and families are expected to attend midweek Lenten worship. Make-up Lessons Youth are responsible for making up missed lessons for confirmation. Make-up-work will be available on the church website, Look under the "ministries" section and then youth/confirmation/schedule. Please remember that the arts/games/service nights are an interactive experience designed to be hands-on. The intention is to build our confirmation class community so making up absences here will be difficult. 6 11

7 Expectations Bring your Confirmation bag with you to every lesson. Make sure that your Bible, Small Catechism, and writing utensil are in it. Cell Phone Usage: Youth-We expect that electronics and mobile devices are off during confirmation and youth activities. Parents- Please refrain from calling your youth unless there is an emergency. Respect yourself and others by: -Listening during the large and small group times -Respecting church materials and supplies -Participating in discussions and activities -Allowing others to learn Sunday School Attendance: Middle school Sunday school classes are offered every week. Sunday school begins at 10:15 a.m. and meets in the music room. We will be doing hands-on activities with crafts, art, music, and puppet ministry, as well as Bible study. Retreats: Youth are expected to attend one of the three retreats per year (Middle School Gathering, RTLC Confirmation Retreat, or RTLC Confirmation Summer Camp) (See pages14 and 15). Requirements The requirements are a main part of the successful completion of the confirmation program at Cross of Christ. Should you find yourself unable to complete any of the below requirements, please contact Pastor Kathy or Cody Kuehl. Attendance: Attend confirmation lessons and worship. -If you are going to be absent from class, please Cody at youth@cross-of-christ.org. -All missed lessons will have make up work that needs to be turned in. (See page 11 for more details) -Attend Affirmation of Baptism service for this year's 9th Grade Class on October 30, 2016 at the 11:15 A.M. service. Worship Notes: 15 Worship Notes Per Year / 45 Total -Whatever is not completed in one year will be carried over to the next year. - You are allowed 5 extra worship notes per year that will be counted towards your next year's total. -Two for One Sunday will be October 30, Student will get credit if a parent sits with them and also does a worship note. -Parents must review and sign each worship note form. -Turn completed worship notes into the hanging folder on the youth board by the kitchen. -You may do sermon notes at other churches when visiting. Please attach bulletin with notes. (Not to exceed 3 unless otherwise approved by Pastor Kathy or Cody) -You can also receive 1 worship note for every 10 times you come to Sunday School during the year (Sept-May). -You may also receive a sermon note for watching the Luther Movie on October 9 at 12:30 p.m. at the church. Church Visits: Attend 2 out of 3 church visits per year. Church visits will be on October 9, January 8, and April 30. Mentoring: Youth will participate in Lenten mentoring (Page 11). 10 7

8 Requirements Worship Help: Volunteer regularly in Sunday worship services at least 4 times a year. Sign up on-line at to get involved! -Lector (Reader) -Assisting Minister (Assisting with worship by reading the prayers and helping with communion. 8th Grade Only) -Acolyte (Light candles for worship) -Communion Assistant (Distribute wine during communion) -Usher (Hand out bulletins, pass offering plates, and direct congregation forward for communion) -Music Ministry (Resonare handbells, Proclaim, Soli Dei Choir, or special music, and Wednesday 360 band) -Altar Guild (Set up/clean up for communion) -Assist in Nursery (During 9:00 A.M. & 11:15 A.M. Worship) -Children's Church Helper (During 9:00 a.m. worship) Community Service: Service to others is an important part of our identity as Christians. We are encouraging at least 3 hours of service per year to be completed through the church. There are many different opportunities to help. Watch the youth s for things that fit your interests. Below are service opportunities that happen every year. -Broomfield FISH -Sandwiches for the Homeless, 3rd Friday every month -Growing Home (4 times per year) -Fair Trade Fair -VBS -Puppeteering 8th Grade Requirements Seder Meal: Passover is the ancient Jewish festival of Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt. For many, many generations, it has been observed with a feast called the Seder, which was once a family meal and a worship service with much praying and much eating. The 8th grade confirmation students and their parents are invited for a special evening celebrating this festival on Tuesday, April 11, In observing the passover Seder, we as Christians are borrowing a tradition from the living faith of Judaism. According to the New Testament, the Seder was the last meal Jesus shared with his disciples, and was the setting for his institution of the Lord's Supper. This is ONLY available for 8th grade youth and their parents. Childcare will be available for younger siblings. Interviews: Each youth meets with Pastor Steve or Cody Kuehl to discuss confirmation and their faith statements with the youth individually. This is done in the fall of their 9th grade year. Faith Statement/Personal Bible Verse: Youth write a personal statement of faith. Youth will share what their faith means to them in getting ready to make promises in front of God and the congregation. Integral to this statement is the question, What does it mean to be a Christian? They also will choose a Bible verse that has personal meaning. 9th Grade Retreat: Youth have a retreat during the late summer before their 9th grade year to discuss the 5 promises that they will make during the service of Affirmation of Baptism and what to expect in high school. We combine the high school retreat to include youth as they transition schools as well. Council Meeting: The youth come to the Church Council (2nd Tuesday in October) and share their faith statements and express their desire to become a full member of the congregation. The council votes to approve the youth as adult members of Cross of Christ. 8 9